Nowadays more and more people are choosing to work out at home. This could be due to a number of reasons such as not having enough time or long hours at work. However, to stay safe and avoid injuries, here are a few tips for working out safely at home.

1. Ensure there is sufficient space
One of the key tips for working out safely at home is to ensure that you have enough space. Hence, clearing the area of obstacles or other items lying on the floor will help you avoid tripping and falling. Clear the area of any furniture if you can to avoid injuries and bumps. If you are doing any exercises that involve jumping, ensure that you stand on an exercise mat that has non-slip padding at the bottom.

2. Wear proper footwear
Exercising at home is quick and convenient; however, you can easily forget to wear proper workout gear. Shoes are important for protecting your feet from injury, making footwear a must for strength training exercises. Wearing socks or flip-flops can also increase your risk of slips and falls when exercising. Although some forms of exercise such as yoga or tai-chi do not require you to wear footwear, most other forms do. Therefore, make a note to always wear appropriate footwear.

3. Protect your joints
In addition to your feet, don’t forget to protect your joints. Joints help us move and bear the weight of the body. Therefore, when performing bodyweight or strength training forms of exercise, it is essential that you use an exercise mat. This will help to protect and cushion your joints as you move, jump, and bend. You might be able to use a carpeted area of your home if you don’t have an exercise mat; however, it would depend on the thickness of the carpet and the type of exercise that you are doing. If you feel sore after exercising on a carpeted surface, get an exercise mat.

4. Remember to warm-up
Always warm-up before exercising is among the important tips for working out safely at home. Warmup helps increase your heart rate and blood flow to the muscles. It also boosts your rate of respiration, ensuring that your muscles get the oxygen they need. Hence, warmup helps prepare your body for physical activity and reduces the chances of injury.

5. Check your posture
Most injuries when exercising occur due to improper workout techniques or posture. This can happen when lifting weights or bending your knees. The proper alignment of the body is also essential when performing certain types of exercises such as strength and yoga, as this would help to avoid injuries.

Keeping these tips for working out safely at home in mind will help you avoid mishaps and injuries.